Since children reach some milestones in how to learn, speak, play, behave and move during 2-3 years of age, this stage is considered critical and needs special attention and care of parents. Therefore, parents need to get to know what steps they should follow to help their toddlers in a proper and positive way. Under the guidance of Near East Pre-school, pedagogue Ayşen Oy, the counselor of Near East Schools Group, organized a seminar themed “milestones of the stage covering 0-3 years of age and 2.5 years of age syndrome” for parents.

According to the info released by the Directorate of Press and Public Relations Office of Near East University, the seminar provided a platform for parents to get to understand their crucial role in the cognitive, emotional and social development of the child and what their behaviors and attitudes needed to be while handling problems encountered. During the seminar, pedagogue Ayşen Oy also highlighted that parents needed to set clear and consistent limits to the relations with the child without being stubborn to persuade the child on an issue that he/she was unwilling to do so.

Underlining the fact that parents usually ignore the wrongdoings of the children due to their young age, Oy stated that such attitudes would lead discipline and adaptation problems in later years of age. Grounding on this fact, Oy drew attention to the importance of every kind of education starting from birth.

Indicating that 2 years of age, which is considered as the end of infancy stage and beginning of the early childhood years, is the most difficult stage for the children and parents as toddler years are a time encompassing the cognitive, emotional and social development of the child, pedagogue Ayşen Ok drew attention to 2.5 years of age syndrome, which is also called infant adolescence. Oy Highlighted that interfamilial changes like having a new baby or getting divorced, which will affect the child spiritually and emotionally, are likely to have more effects on the 2.5 years of age child who has already adopted a negative attitude.

Oy also provided information about possible conflicts likely to be experienced between parents and the child in this stage and delivered suggestions how to settle the conflicts and support the individual development of the child.